die Erwiderung, -en

Definition & meaning

The word Erwiderung primarily refers to a response or a reply made to a statement, question, or action. It is often used in a slightly more formal or emphatic context than a simple answer.

There are three main nuances to its meaning:

1. A verbal response: This is a formal reply or a retort to something someone has said. It often implies a direct reaction to a specific point made by another person.
2. A reciprocal action: It can describe the act of returning something in kind, such as a gesture, a favor, or even an insult. For example, returning a greeting or a smile is an Erwiderung.
3. Legal context: In law, an Erwiderung refers to a formal rebuttal or a rejoinder, specifically a defendant's response to the plaintiff's statement of claim.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a feminine noun (die Erwiderung). Its plural form is die Erwiderungen.

It is derived from the verb erwidern↗, which means to reply or reciprocate. The structure of the word consists of:

• er-: A prefix often indicating the beginning of an action or the achievement of a result.
• wider: A root meaning against or back (not to be confused with wieder, meaning again).
• -ung: A common suffix in German used to turn a verb into a noun, usually describing a process or the result of an action.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

• Antwort↗: The most common word for a general answer or reply.
• Entgegnung↗: A more formal synonym, often used for a retort or a contradiction.
• Reaktion↗: A broader term for a reaction to a stimulus or statement.
• Replik↗: A sophisticated term for a reply, often used in rhetoric or arts.
• Bescheid↗: Often used in the sense of providing information or a final decision.

Antonyms

• Frage↗: The question that precedes a response.
• Schweigen↗: Silence, or the lack of any response.
• Ignoranz↗: The act of ignoring a statement rather than replying to it.